Michael Jordan is not the number 1 NBA player of all time, and he has no case to be the number 1 NBA player of all time, and lots of players are better than him, and he's overrated then. Now if you disagree, you can go on my program and show me why you are right. If you want to go on email TheTelePhoneUniverse@Gmail.Com

Red's treatment and loyalty to his players is one of the reasons why the players worked their asses off for him.

Two best things about this interview are: 1) Bird talking about Auerbach’s loyalty above all else to the great Celtic players, and 2) Bird talking about McHale playing with a broken foot and the interviewer says ‘yea and Mahorn was stepping on it’…and Larry very nonchalantly goes “yeah”, like ‘well of course he did’. That’s classic…GOAT!

It's nice to see Larry talking about McHale and Parish. Larry thought highly of them. They all liked and respected each other. DJ, Ainge too. They played as a team. My favorite team!

I played basketball for 20 years and larry bird was incredible. The plays he made and the shots he made were unreal.

When the Celtics were winning all those championships, I thought it was due to the players. But just recently I listened to an long interview with Red Auerbach and was totally blown away. Red was a great philosopher and a great coach.

Larry the Legend. Great, great player. They don't make players like Bird anymore.

You never trade your Goat and put him in another jersey. You let him retire with the team.

The player I’d love to meet is Larry. No one else … just Larry.

"you gotta play when you can" - Old school mentality. Kobe was probably the last player who thought that way.

Larry Bird. When Larry talks people listen and hang on to every word.

Danny Ainge was already "Trader Danny" when he was still a player. Ironically, Ainge was the player traded.

What I loved about Bird was that he would tell opposing teams that he was taking the last shot and WHERE he was going to be when he took the last shot.

Trading Bird would have been the Celtics biggest mistake …. Auerbach probably snickered when Danny Ainge said that !

If Reggie Lewis AND Len Bias would have not passed, the Celtics would have been fine

Hearing Larry talk about Sleepy Sam that way just makes me smile….. can’t imagine how Perkins would feel hearing this….

Larry is right on both counts, no one today would try to play that seriously hurt and if you have that chance you have to take it because you may never get there again.

The Real great Larry Byrd the man never said he was but those who played against him said he was that's greatness

This is perfect. All this talk about it being "a business" gets overplayed. If you really wanna develop a unique brand, ride with the ones who got you to the dance. Proving loyalty in a world where it's getting lost in the shuffle goes a long way

Man I have to give you credit sir your still grinding after all these years. RESPECT

we´ll never see another bird. at times he was the least athletic player on the court, but he outsmarted everyone else. he played the game like it was chess wile everyone else played tic tac toe. and he wanted to win so badly you could feel it right through the screen. he´s my goat.

In Late 80s the Celtics were still in the chase for Finals. They won Eastern conference in 86 and 87. Publicly it was known they're not as good but until 1991 they were seen as a contender to win the East.

I met Kevin in an airport in 2011. He walked with significant pain. I asked him what hurt and he responded, “my ankles.” I don’t know why, but that surprised me. I guess I figured it would be his knees or hips.

The players now won't play if their finger or toe hurts. They know they have a guaranteed salary. That also applies to the NFL.

Larry Legend

Danny Ainge...who then got traded to Sacramento for a sandwich 🥪

Load management might have allowed Bird to play a couple years longer, not in his dna.

Whole league is soft now. Never cared for Kobe but he was the last of the true warriors on the court.

LOYALTY enough said!!

loyalty...something this generation of basketball has no idea what it is.

I was a pistons fan back during the bad boys 80s early 90s and I had major disdain for the celtics but over the last couple of years in reviewing many of the you tube videos with Larry Bird and all the other great players on that team back then its easy to like them now. I enjoy watching how awesome of a team they were and how much DJ, Parish, Bird and McHale respected each other as teammates.

As a Pistons fan I'll never like Bird but @2:04 when he says "and he's still paying for it" thats words a young man can never understand.

Excellent

I still think if McHale didn't have that busted foot, he alters/blocks that Magic hook shot, the Celtics win that game and tie it at 2-2. In '87, even though probably the Lakers were the better overall team, I still would have bet on the Celtics to go 2-1 in the final 3 and win in 7 games.

Aint it crazy how bird looked 80 years old his entire life? Respect tho

What really stopped Boston's run back then was the death of Len Bias.

That trade never would have been even mentioned if Len Bias and Reggie Lewis would have been alive.

Read Bill Russell's comments on Auerbach...same as Birds. Bill knew who treated him with respect and had his back.

Love of the Game!

LEGEND!

HAPPY 66TH BIRTHDAY LARRY BIRD !!!

My how times have changed

Is that Herm Gilliam in between Rick Mount and Billy Keller in that picture behind Bird????

Bird is the goat

Danny Ainge was the Grayson Allen of the 80's

no one could ever dutch this man respect back when you took a super punch and it just made ya mad.. he could channel his game an unleash it at will... hell ya mr larry bird aint no one better

I’m 36 and now understand the truth that life is full of people who I used to believe were “self-made,” and did it on their own…. Like Birdy is saying, even the all-time greats love being more humble because of the great men & women that believed in them enough to be loyal all throughout… Extrapolating Bird’s comments, I know he believes what we all find to be so great about him is a man who is old and wise enough to look back at his own broken back and say, “my GM loved me like a son when he knew I actually wasn’t the Great Larry Bird everyone wants to remember…” Same reason the 2nd most arrogantly amazing man on earth, MJ, knew well enough as a young man we all know as the GOAT, and he at least tried consistently to show the wisdom that you have to be arrogant as hell to believe you’re the best at your craft, but I owe it to all the kids watching me off the court that can be the best version of themselves even if they work 3rd shift and culture tells them their a failure… And I’ll end my rant with the fact I am not Jordan Peterson- I’m a man of too many, rambling words, and I’m good with knowing people like JP can take my book of a comment and make it so eloquent, but he too would say that it’s best to do something versus cower and live life in-between and insecurely criticizing others for doing/trying what the in-betweeners won’t ever try so they can’t fail and learn from it…. Then again, I’m a Vikings fan so I know being let down, but one day I won’t be…

Best Era of basketball.

My father never watched another game once Larry Bird retired.

maestro

The great teams have loyalty. Lakers did it with many players like Kareem, Kobe, Johnson, more. Loyalty is more than who had a great year last year. Loyalty is who can rebound to have a great year this year...

Hated the Celts back in the day but mad respect nowadays. If keeping those guys past their prime was sort of the price they paid for the three championships in the 80's, any organization would take that deal.

It's called integrity and respect you don't trade someone that gave as much as these guys who many agree is the goat , like when Montana was traded that was an insult after all he did , Sports in general will never be the same

They don't make them like Larry Bird anymore.

Angel wanted to trade Robert Horry too, well that's right he did. He went on to be Big Shot Bob. But not after throwing a towel and Ainge's face.

Players get a blister today and they're out a month.....

No load management here..

Now you have "pros" claim their sneakers caused their injuries

Bird and McHale used to beat my Rockets all the time in the 81 and 86 Finals and as much as I despised Bird becuase he was so good and clutch, I always respected his dedication, work ethic and knowledge of the game on the court. He was always 2 and 3 moves ahead of everyone else. The behind the scene stories that have come out thanks to KZfaq about NBA players and the trash talk is awesome.

The same reason why Klay Thompson should not be traded

Dude if Len Bias and Reggie Lewis don't pass away these guys keep the Pistons and the Bulls out of the finals.

the adjustment to life after bird and mchale reired as celtics would have been easier with len and reggie

Love Larry Boyd's honesty.

Hate Bird and the Celtics back then but they were great. Much respect.

Bird says "loyalty" and the interviewer looks like him like he has 12 heads.

Larry was great from like what 1982 to 1988...6 yrs?? Many players were great for many more years than that.

"perkins is a great player..." Notice he didn't say anything about Detlef...lol

I was and still am a Laker, however if Bird doesn’t shovel his moms driveway and wreck his back, if Michael rests his foot, and if Bias and Lewis don’t pass they would’ve won a lot more Champs and no bad boys and Jordan’s time would’ve been delayed. History would be different. Miss those times and those type of players. 👍🏻

Considering they gave the organization multiple chips it's a no brainer

Bird basketball. No one gamer!!!!! Full bird balm!!

Would definitely be goat if not for a bad back (that shortened his career), and the untimely demise of len bias, who could've helped boston win several more crowns

Loyalty went out with VHS. Management AND players dont give AF about loyalty. Only $$$

God, I hated the Celtics. In the 60s, 70s and 80s they had great players, but better TEAMS. I respected that. It all started with Auerbach.

Oh I think there's one player that Boston would of traded Bird for...Jordan, but Chicago wouldn't trade Jordan for anyone. I've seen a lot of comments about how today's players don't play hurt like in the 80's, but to hear McHale still suffering from that broken foot vs sitting out today's players to have them play in future is more respect by an organization for the players than allowing them to suffer well into their lives. I wonder how Bill Walton is doing today or Yao Ming will do in the future.

Danny Angie, the guy who would trade in American rights for Chinese appeasement.

Just imagine if LEN BIAS played with the Celtics

I always wondered what might have been for the Celtics if Len Bias hadn’t died.

Unpopular take, but this trade was discussed in 1989. The Celtics would only win two more playoff series in that era. In retrospect, trading McHale would probably have been the correct move.

Would Bron play with a broken foot?

Players in the 80s will still play 82 games even with a broken foot. Today, they will rest every other game just to chillax.

There is a reason why people call him Larry the legend, there is also a reason why they call that other guy ”the snake”..

A GM would be fired nowadays for being loyal to his players… to be fair he does work for the owner

Loyalty. In today's NBA the only thing anyone is loyal to is money. On both sides.

Danny Ainge!!! Who was him?

If bird was just a tad stronger athletically, tom chambers like, woulda been scary. Top 4 for me either way.

“Should’ve traded them in the late ‘80’s” Ok, what year are we talking about? In ‘87 you definitely do NOT trade anyone. In ‘89 you definitely trade if you have a good offer! The Bulls and Pistons had clearly passed the Celtics heading into the ‘89 season.

Bird, Parrish and draft picks for Jordan and keep McHale

If Danny Ainge had been running the Spurs circa 2010, the 2014 championship never would have happened

Is Danny in hall of fame?????

I caint stand Larry Bird!? Until he is on my team?!

All General Mangers are presented deals, and they kick the tires, (figure of speech) you have to, it not like your going to make the deal, like James Worthy and Byron Scott for Mark Aguirre and Roy Tarpley. Magic went Jerry Buss for that deal. locker room spies told Jerry West that one of guys was on coke. you know the Towel boys and they had rooms bugs back then , now the players put everything in the Locker on Social Media! yea go figure.

Danny

Danny Ainge was a snake as a GM though. Just ask Isiah Thomas.

I have fought alot of people around the world!? There is only one type of person I am scare of?! A basketball player. Nobody has a meaner attitude than these people who love to play basketball!? First time I learned how to play the sport I knew I had a problem? I would go all the way to lay up the ball and Bam!? And no foul!? He goes down and I try to knock the ball out of his hands and my finger nail scraps his gym shorts?! Whistle!? What the fck!? The coach had to do some paper work and I asked if I could ref?! They had to go get coach, because I only blew the whistle when the ball went out of bounds?! BOXING, WWE and FOOTBALL all rolled up in one sport?! That was jr high school. Pay back for kicking my azz on the basketball court?!

Loyalty! These men deserved to stay on the team because they did so much. That’s how I felt about Brady.

Danny granger for Evan Turner was a mistake made by Bird

Love my Celtics!

It is hard to watch the NBA nowadays. It is just too soft.

Ah, stop it. Mahorn was trying to rehab the foot. Or help Kevin get some well needed rest. Before there was Mahorn, there was the Celtics.

If Reggie had not passed I truly believe that they would have been OK. Because he was special I also think that they had a college kid Lenny bias not really sure of the spelling of the name but I think Boston had him too. Now Lenny was a gym rat top draft pick Boston had the chance to take a dam good chance at the bulls, if Portland had not traded Jordan to Chicago, I'm telling you Boston easily could have rebuilt and reloaded. They had really two bad luck top players go down in like 2 or 3 years. It was a sad time because you really didn't need to hype these players up they were already on point. If you got time look up Reggie Lewis or Lenny Bias